Ribbon of bandages and dispenser



Sept. 22, 1970 v. J. BARATTA RIBBON OF BANDAGES AND DISPENSER 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1968 INVENTOR.

Sept. 22, 1970 BARATTA 3,530,494

RIBBON OF BANDAGES AND DISPENSER Filed April 25, 196k 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

BY VINCENT JBARATTA ATTORNEY United States ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThis invention relates to adhesive bandage strips having a bandage padsecured to an adhesive coating on a surface of the bandage strip andhaving a backing paper or ma terial to protect the adhesive until thebandage is ready for use, and in particular, this invention contemplatesa series of such bandages on a single backing ribbon defined as acarrier ribbon so that each bandage may be easily removed from thecarrier ribbon for application. Carrier ribbons may be of indeterminatelength, and may be in combination with dispensers particularly adaptedfor holding the ribbon while a bandage is stripped off. In some forms ofthe invention, the carrier ribbon is adapted to be coiled spirally aboutitself and sealed or fastened with a seal around each bandageindividually, such seal holding coils of the carrier ribbon togetherwith bandages between them in sterile chambers so that as the leadingedge of the carrier ribbon is unreeled, the seal will be brokenindividually for each separate bandage as desired so that the bandagecan be kept sterile until the seal between coiled portions of thecarrier ribbon is broken so that the bandage may be stripped off.

This invention relates to surgical dressings and more particularly toadhesive bandage wherein the soft absorbent bandage pad is attached toan adhesive coated bandage strip. Adhesive bandages of the type to whichthe invention relates are used in the treatment of cuts, burns,abrasions, and the like. They consist usually of a strip of surgicaladhesive tape with a soft absorbent pad or dressing disposed on theadhesive face thereof, said adhesive coating extending beyond edges ofthe pad to secure the pad in place in use, and a protective facingmaterial overlying the pad and the adhesive coating, and designed forremoval just prior to application of the bandage in use.

Adhesive bandages as described are generally packed in individualsterile envelopes sometimes having means i such as a tear string or atear strip to adapt the envelopes for easy removal of the bandage. Afterremoval of the bandage, the backing paper or material must then beremoved so that the bandage can be utilized.

It is an object of this invention to provide a plurality of suchbandages readily available for use, eliminating the tedious steps ofbreaking the envelope and removing the backing paper, an operation whichusually requires both hands of the doctor, nurse or technician(hereinafter called the operator).

The object of this invention is achieved by providing a continuousribbon of backing material of indeterminate length on which a successiveseries of badages may be stored in a sterile manner, and which requiresonly the lifting or stripping of a bandage from the backing material inone deft motion to render the bandage immediately available for use.

It is also a part of this invention to provide storing and dispensingmeans for such a ribbon of bandages which will help in keeping thebandages sterile and minimize mechanical contamination.

It is a further object to provide such dispensing means atent which willinclude means to hold the ribbon while the bandage is being strippedoff.

Bandage ribbons and devices made in accordance with the invention areparticularly adaptable for use in a hospital, laboratory or physiciansofiice where an operator such as a doctor, nurse or technician, in thecourse of treating the patient, will require a quick bandage to cover,for example, a puncture from a hypodermic needle. Prior to my invention,it was necessary for the operator to fumble first with the envelope ofthe bandage and then to remove the backing paper. With my invention, allthe operator need do is strip a bandage from the sterile ribbon.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description. The invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a length of bandage ribbon of theinvention showing one bandage completely removed and one bandagepartially removed;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a bandage ribbon of the invention showing abandage during a bandage stripping operation;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a dispenser of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of another dispenser of the inventionshown on a table;

FIG. 5 is a dispenser substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 4shown on a wall mounting with parts broken away;

FIG. 6 is yet another form of dispenser used in combination with theinvention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a third form of bandage ribbon;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another form of the invention, partly indiagram form, showing the manner of fabrication of the ribbon ofbandages illustrated in the figure;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along the lines 99 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view along the lines 1010 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan View of the carrier ribbon of the invention asshown in FIG. 8 after a bandage strip has been affixed and prior tocoiling the carrier ribbon;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the cylindrical surface of roller as shown inFIG. 8 flattened out for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of another form of dispenser of theinvention;

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of FIG. 13 showing a manual reelingcrank;

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 14 showing anotherform of dispenser with a motorized reeling unit; and

FIG. 16 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 13 of another form ofdispenser.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the ribbon of adhesive band ages of theinvention comprises a carrier ribbon 10 and a plurality of bandagestrips 12. Each bandage strip 12 has at least a portion of one surfacecoated with adhesive 14 and a bandage pad 16 secured to the adhesive 14.

In FIG. 2, we see a carrier ribbon 10 and a plurality of bandage strips12a having bandage pads 16. It is to be noted that the ribbon ofbandages 20 as shown in FIG. 1 has a relatively wider ribbon 10 than theribbon of bandages 22 as shown in FIG. 2, and also that the bandagestrips 12 are square with the bandage pad 16 relatively centrallylocated whereas the bandage strips 12a, as shown in FIG. 2, aregenerally oblong with a bandage pad 16 almost as wide as the strip. Thisis by way of illustration 3 that the ribbon of adhesive bandages of theinvention may be of any size and carry a plurality of bandages ofvarious shapes.

It is also to be understood that a number of bandages of differentwidths may be contained in lateral arrangement on a single ribbon, orthat bandages of different lengths may be arranged in a longitudinalrelationship on a single ribbon. In the usual practice, however, aribbon would contain a plurality of bandages of the same size arrangedlongitudinally and separately on the ribbon. The word separately orseparate is used to define that although the bandages are held togetheron the carrier ribbon 10, they are indeed separate from one another as asingle bandage may be stripped off the ribbon 10 without affecting theposition, placement and mounting of the next succeeding bandage or ofany other bandage on the ribbon.

A bandage strip 12 may have its surface completely covered with adhesive14, or a portion of the surface with the adhesive coating may be leftfree of adhesive in order to assist the operator in starting the peelingor stripping of the bandage strip 12 from the ribbon 10. This isillustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings at reference numeral 26 whichshows a leading edge of a bandage clear of adhesive and at referencenumeral 28 which shows a trailing edge of a bandage strip 12 clear ofadhesive. Again in FIG. 2, reference numeral 30 shows a leading edgeclear of adhesive and reference to leading and trailing edges of bandagestrips 12 and 12a as well as any other bandage strip of the invention isa term relative to the direction in which the bandage ribbon is unreeledor many be drawn from a dispenser. Such direction for the ribbon in FIG.1 is designated by arrow A and for the ribbon of FIG. 2 is designated byarrow B. Thus, a clear portion of surface free of adhesive on anybandage strip of the invention may be provided at any portion of thebandage strip to serve as a starter for stripping. I prefer that theclear portion be either at the leading or trailing edge of the bandagestrip or at both the leading and trailing edges of the bandage strip.

I may also provide a tab 32 at either the leading or trailing edge of abandage strip 12 as shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. The tab may haveadhesive coating between it and the carrier ribbon 10, or the tab may befree of adhesive coating to assist in starting. It is understood thatFIG. 7 of the drawings may represent ribbon of adhesive bandages 34depicted therein as having a tab 32 at any portion of the bandage strip12, it being understood that such tab 32 could be at the leading edge orthe trailing edge or any other portion of the bandage strip 12.

In FIG. 3 of the drawings, I show a ribbon of adhesive bandages such asribbon enclosed in a hand held dispenser 36. The dispenser 36 has a mainframe or body portion 38 adapted to be hand held. It has a storage area40 which may serve as a means for rolling or reeling a length of bandageribbon 20 within the container 36, and

there are dispensing means such as the opening 42 through which thebandage ribbon 20 can be pulled for dispensing and use. Adjacent thedispensing means there is a holding means such as a platform 44 overwhich the bandage ribbon 20 may be drawn. The operator would hold end 46of bandage ribbon 20 in his right hand to draw it from the dispenser 36,holding the dispenser 36 in his left hand. When a sufiicient quantity ofribbon was drawn out to provide for separating a bandage strip 12 fromthe leading end of the bandage ribbon 20, the left thumb 48 of theoperator could squeeze the ribbon 20 as shown in FIG. 3, holding itfirmly in place. The operator would then take his right thumb andforefinger and start to peel a bandage strip 12 off at the pointdesignated by reference numeral 50 while still holding the main portionof the ribbon of bandages 20 with his left thumb. Thus, in one easymotion, an entire bandage strip 12 is stripped off ready for use fromthe ribbon 10.

In FIG. 4, I show a dispenser 54 having a main frame or housing 56 whichwould contain means for storing or reeling a ribbon of bandages such asribbon 20, a dispensing outlet 58, and friction braking means comprisinga platform 60 and a brake mechanism including a brake shoe 62 and abrake arm comprising operating means Such as a spring or torsion deviceas shown at reference numeral 64. The frame or housing would alsocontain a weighted portion 68 and perhaps a friction type bottom 70which would be comprised of felt or other friction material. Theoperator would grasp the leading end of the ribbon 20 as shown atreference numeral '72 and pull it in the direction of arrow C until asufficient quantity was exposed. The force of the spring or torsionmeans, in cooperation with the weighted dispensing housing 54, would besufficient to permit the ribbon 20 to be withdrawn without dislodgingthe dispenser when on a table top 76. Yet, the force of this arrangementmust be sufiicient to hold the ribbon 20 firmly against the peeling pullof the operator when a bandage strip 12 is stripped off starting atreference point 78 in the direction of arrow D.

In FIG. 5 I show a dispenser 80 which is substantially similar todispenser 54 except that it is mounted on a wall 82 by means of afastening bracket 84.

In FIG. 6 I show another wall mounted dispenser 86 which is simply areel 88 mounted on a bracket 90 on a wall 92, the reel 88 holding aquantity of adhesive bandages as in a ribbon 22. In stripping a bandagestrip 12 from the devices as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the ribbon ofbandages 20 is held firmly, either by the thumb 48 or the brake shoe 62,and it is preferable to strip starting from the trailing edge of thebandage strip 12 as shown in the drawings. In the form of inventionshown in FIG. 6, the operator would grasp the leading end of ribbon 22as at reference numeral in one of his hands and start to strip bandagestrip 12a from the leading edge with his other hand pulling away fromthe first mentioned hand. In this manner, the ribbon 22 may be withdrawnby the same hand which holds it firmly against the stripping of thebandage strip 12a.

In FIGS. 8 through 11, I show another form of the invention in which aseries of bandage strips 12b, which are similar to bandage strips 12a,are placed on a bottom surface 108 of a carrier ribbon 110. Carrierribbon 110' also has a top surface 112.

Bandage strips 12b may be placed on the bottom surface of the carrierribbon in any manner or means known to the art, either by hand or bymachinery. The bandage strips 121) will adhere to the bottom surface 108of carrier ribbon 110 by means of the adhesive 14 of the bandage strip.The bottom surface 108 of the carrier ribbon thus serves as a backingmaterial for the adhesive 14 of bandage strip 1211 until it is ready tobe stripped off for use.

In FIG. 8 of the drawings, I have illustrated in diagrammatic form onemethod of preparing the ribbon of adhesive bandages in spiral form 116comprised in the form of invention illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 11. Acarrier ribbon 110 is fed through an assembly line comprising one ormore pieces of machinery in which there is included a take-up reel 118suitably mounted on a shaft 120. The machinery is also provided with afinger 122 adapted to push a single bandage strip 12b upwardly so thatit be afiixed to the bottom surface 108 of carrier ribbon 110. Means isprovided to supply a series of bandage strips 12b to that portion of themachinery at which the finger 122 is stationed so that the finger mayoperate to supply bandage strips 12b to the bottom surface 108 ofcarrier ribbon 110. An adhesive 124 is applied to bottom surface 108 ofcarrier ribbon 110 by means of a fountain roller 126 and print roller128. The adhesive 124 is placed on bottom surface 108 so that it willprovide a complete seal around each bandage strip 12b. This is done byproviding the adhesive print roller 128 with a circumference 130 havinga printing portion 132 which, when flattened out as shown in FIG. 12,will appear as a rectangle and will be larger than the size of theoutside perimeter of bandage 12b so that the adhesive 124 will be placedaround the perimeter of bandage strip 12b in such a manner and locationthat when it becomes a securing means around the bandage, it willenclose the bandage within a chamber 146 located between said securingmeans and a bottom surface 108 of carrier ribbon 110 and a top surface112 of carrier ribbon 110. The bandage within the chamber maysubsequently be sterilized by any means known to the art. The chambers146 will be formed as the carrier ribbon 110 moves forward with bandagestrips 12b surrounded by adhesive 124 until it reels upon itself to forma coil or spiral of bandages 116 as shown in the right hand portion ofFIG. 8.

I may also provide' knurling means such as the roller 140 having knurledportions 142 to knurl those portions of the carrier ribbon 110 whichcome together with some adhesive between them in order to enhance thesecuring means. The action of the finger 122 and the other mechanismdiagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 8 is not explained because thesecomponents of packaging and labeling machinery are well known in theart, and need no further explanation, it being understood that theentire system can run off the main drive of one device or be acombination of several devices, and the particular form or system shownis for illustrative purposes only, it being further understood that thebandage ribbon 116 can be made in any manner, either manually ormechanically. The resulting coil 116 will contain a series of chambersheld together by the securing means or adhesive 124. Each chamber willbe defined by adhesive sides 150 and 152 and adhesive ends 154 and 156.The adhesive thus described will hold together a portion of a bottomsurface 108 to a portion of a top surface 112 of the coiled carrierribbon 110. The bandage coil 116 can also be made with the adhesivesides 150 and the adhesive sides 152 in a continuous unbroken line forthe entire length of the ribbon 110. In such case, the ribbon would besealed on both sides and each bandage strip 12b would be placed in aseparate pocket by the provision of cross lines of adhesive 154 and 156;or the cross lines 154 and 156 can be merged into a single line, itbeing understood that any arrangement of the securing means will besatisfactory so long as a bandage strip 12!) is separately containedwithin its own chamber 146 and so long as the securing means has the'quality of permitting the bottom 108 and top 112 surfaces of the carrierribbon 110 to be separated by hand pulling.

Wl 1ile I have described the securing means as an adhesive such as aglue or a pressure sensitive type adhesive, or any other adhesive whichcould be used in making bandage packages, the securing means may also beby means of a heat seal, or by any other securing or sealing means whichwill permit the portions of the carrier ribbon 110 to be separated byhand pulling. Many of these means are well known in the art, and need nofurther explanation or description.

In FIG. 13 of the drawings, I illustrate a dispenser which may be usedin combination with the bandage coil 116. The dispenser 160 comprises abody portion 162 in which provision is made to mount a slideable shaft164. Shaft 164 is adapted to be slideably mounted on shaft guides 166which may be formed into the walls of the body portion 162. Reel 118 andits coil of bandages 110 is mounted on shaft 164 and shaft 164 togetherwith its load is urged toward opening 168 by means of springs 170 ifdesired. The carrier ribbon 110 is drawn through opening 168 around arounded edge 172 along a sloping front 174 and back into the dispenser160 at an opening 176 to be reeled around a take-up reel 178 on a shaft180. Thus, as ribbon 110 is pulled away from the coiled bandages 116, itwill break the seal at rounded portion 172 of the dispenser 160 therebyexposing a bandage strip 12b as shown in FIG. 13. Just enough of theribbon 110 is pulled away from the coil 116 to expose a single bandage12b on the slope 174 of the device 160 leaving all of the rest of thebandage strips 12b within their sterile chambers 146 within the coil 116within the dispenser 160. The exposed strip 12b may then be stripped offfor use. When another bandage strip is desired, shaft 180 is rotated inthe direction of the arrow, causing ribbon to move and causing coil 116to rotate in the direction of its arrow, advancing another bandage strip12b to the slope 174 for dispensing. This dispensing means may be eithermanual, mechanical, motorized or by any other means of advancing theribbon 110 for dispensing.

In FIG. 14 of the drawings, I show a dispenser such as dispenser havinga mechanical mechanism as a dispensing means. The mechanical mechanismcomprises a crank 182 which is connected either directly or through agear or other transmission means to shaft 180. Working the crank 182will advance the ribbon 110.

In FIG. 15 of the drawings, I show a dispenser 160a which has amotorized dispensing means 184. Reference numeral 184 represents amotor, usually an electric motor of a one-revolution type which may beactivated by means of a starting switch 186 to move the ribbon 110 therequired distance to expose a bandage strip 12b. The motor is connectedto shaft and the type of motor, the means of connection, as well asstarting and stopping means for such motor are not described as all arewell known to the art, and it is within the ordinary knowledge of aperson skilled in the art to provide such a system where a touch of aswitch such as switch button 186 Will advance the ribbon 110 for thelength required to properly expose a bandage 12b on the slope 174 sothat it may be taken off by a doctor, technician or other operator.While I have shown an electric cord 188 adapted to be plugged into anoutlet, the motorized unit 184 may also be battery run such as acordless type.

In FIG. 16, I show a manual dispensing means where the ribbon 110 isadvanced by pulling manually until a bandage strip 12b is exposed fordispensing. The end 190 of the ribbon 110 is grasped by the operator andpulled until a suflicient amount of ribbon 110 has been exposed.

In all of these forms as shown in FIG. 13 through FIG. 16, the principleof exposing the bandage involves hand pulling the ribbon 110 against anedge or rounded corner such as corner 172 to break the seal of that partof the ribbon 110 which is pulled through opening 168. The balance ofthe coil 116 inside the dispenser 160 which has not yet contacted edge172 remains in perfect sterile seal.

While I have described some of the dispensing means as motorized ormechanical, the force necessary to break the seal would be the sameforce as hand pulling, and it is to be understood that the term handpulling as a means of separating the securing means of the invention isto cover any type of separation in dispensing, whether by hand,mechanically, or by machine as describing the pulling force necessary toseparate the portions of the ribbon as well as the required propertiesof the adhesive or heat seal in that such securing means must have theproperty of being separable by hand pulling.

The ribbons of bandages of my invention are made of the usual componentsused in making individual bandages of this type which are already wellknown to the art. The material for the ribbon 10 or 110 may be selectedfrom those materials that have been found useful in the adhesive bandageindustry such as crinoline, plastic film, film laminates, foil, foillaminates or treated or coated paper and the like.

The body portion of the bandage strip 12 or 12a or 12b may comprise anyof the fibrous or non-fibrous backings that are customarily used in theadhesive tape industry. Plastic films or cloth are preferred, but paper,non-woven bonded webs or tissue may be used if desired. The plasticfilms include synthetic or natural films such as cellophane, rubber,cellulose acetates, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetatepropionate, as well as other cellulose esters or ethers, poly-vinylesters, salts or acetates, polyethylene, super polyamides and the like.Cloth backings may be coated or uncoated or cross-woven or knitted ifextensibility is desired.

The material of the bandage pad 16 may be an absorbent material such aspaper, fabric, cellulose pulp, absorbent cotton fibers, absorbent rayonfibers of all types, cellulose wadding of paper or fiber made absorbentby any conventional method, mixtures of such materials and theirequivalents, and the adhesive 14 may be any suitable adhesive known inthe bandaging art.

The securing means which has been described as adhesive 124 may beselected from any adhesive having the properties for the purpose; thatis, the property of permitting the sheets of material held by theadhesive to be separated by hand pulling. In this sense, securing meansis defined to encompass a meaning broader than adhesive since it alsocovers any type of securement or seal such as a mechanical seal or aheat seal which is capable of maintaining a sterile enclosure around thebandage strips. The form of invention illustrated herein is illustratedwith an adhesive 124. However, any sealing means known to the art may beused for the securing means.

The invention lies in the particular disposition of separate bandages ona continuous ribbon, or web, as described hereinabove so that separatebandages of a plurality of bandages on such ribbon may be kept sterileand available for immediate use with a minimum of fumbling andmovements.

I have described a specific example of bandage having a bandage pad as awound covering. This invention may also be constructed by providing abandage strip made of an absorbent material adapted to be a woundcovering in and of itself. Such a strip may be provided with an adhesivecoating leaving a centrally located portion free of adhesive and servethe same purpose as an adhesively coated strip with a bandage padattached to the adhesive. It is, therefore, to be understood that theterm wound covering as used herein and in the claims hereinbelow definesany means or construction which can be used in the art to cover a wound,whether such means is separate from the bandage strip or integraltherewith.

While I have described my invention in its preferred forms, there areother forms which it may take without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, and I, therefore, desire to be protected for allforms coming within the claims hereinbelow.

Wherefore I claim:

1. A ribbon of adhesive bandages comprising a carrier ribbon and aplurality of adhesive bandage strips, said bandage strips comprising anadhesive coating on one surface thereof with a wound cover, in which thecarrier ribbon comprises a top surface and a bottom surface and issubstantially coiled about itself spirally, and in which the saidbandage strips are in end spaced relationship from each other with eachbandage strip being positioned between portions of said carrier ribboncomprising a bottom surface of a portion of a coil of said ribbon and atop surface of a portion of a coil of said carrier ribbon, with saidbottom and top surface portions of said coiled carrier ribbon beingsecured together by securing means capable of being separated by handpulling, said securing means providing a seal around the perimeter ofeach bandage strip.

2. The ribbon of adhesive bandages as defined in claim 1, in which thesecuring means comprises an adhesive.

3. The ribbon of adhesive bandages as defined in claim 1, in which thesecuring means comprises heat sealing means.

4. The ribbon of adhesive bandages as defined in claim 1, in which thebandage strips are relatively narrower than the carrier ribbon, and saidbandage strips are sealed in chambers formed by said carrier ribbon andsaid securing means.

5. The ribbon of adhesive bandages as defined in claim 1, in which thesecuring means comprises knurling.

6. An article dispensing ribbon for dispensing articles packagedtherewith comprising a carrier ribbon and a plurality of packagedarticles, in which the carrier ribbon comprises a top surface and abottom surface and is substantially coiled about itself spirally, and inwhich said packaged articles are in spaced relationship from each otherwith each packaged article being positioned between portions of saidcarrier ribbon comprising a bottom surface of a portion of a coil ofsaid ribbon and a top surface of a portion of a coil of said carrierribbon, with said bottom and top surface portions of said coiled carrierribbon being secured together by securing means capable of beingseparated by hand pulling, said securing means providing a seal aroundthe perimeter of each. packaged article.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,330,471 7/1967 Timms 206561,313,942 8/1919 Elliott 221--72 1,410,559 3/1922 Elliott 221-72 X2,133,609 8/1938 Eustis 206632 X 2,276,297 3/ 1942 Flood. 2,341,5832/1944 Tuve 20659 X 2,367,417 1/1945 Milem 20663.2 2,377,117 5/1945Watkins 20663.2 X 2,816,655 12/1957 Crozier et al. 3,259,507 7/1966Smith 20656 FOREIGN PATENTS 396,418 7/1933 Great Britain.

1,002,733 11/1951 France.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 20656; 221-73

